Loose leaf binder



' June 20, 1933. R. M. WATSON 1,915,140

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 23, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.fi/cHA/w M M4715 o/v ATTORNEY.

June 0, 1933. R M WAT 1,915,140

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed April 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

to Fig. 3 is a plan view of the assembled unit I rivet 5. The basemember of the binder is Patented June 20, 1933 I i V UNITED STATESPATENT OFEE RICHARD M. wArsoN,-or DETROIT, MICHIGAN LOOSE LEAF BINDERApplication filed April 23, 1930. Serial No. 446,?10.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders illustrating the manner 01!covering up the and has to do particularly with a novel base securingmeans by the width of the upper member and securing means therefortoshell. gether with a method of assembling the same. F 1g, 1 is aperspective view, partly cut 5 The present invention is adapted to beaway illustrating the manner of holding the 5 preferably embodied inbinder structure of plate members in assembled relation. the type havinga shell or base member Fig. 5 s a view s milar to Fig. 1, but ilformedof a single piece which extends sublustrating the shell member asapplied to a stantially the length of the binder. More loose leaf binderoi the more expensive cloth particularly, the present invention,conbaclr type. 6o templates certain improvements over the F ig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 2 but illusbase structure and securing meansdisclosed crating the step of assembling the type of in my Patents No.1,827,411, dated October blnder illustrated in Fig. 5 13, 1931 and No.1,771,104, dated July 22, Fig. 7 1s a fragmentary perspective view is,193( of the attaching member used in the type of 65 It is the particularobject of the present inlnfler illustrated in Fig. 5. p vention toprovide a shell member, prefer- 1 1g- 8 1s a perspective end view of thebl f d f one piece a d covering all of connecting plates for the ringmembers and the securing and actuating means for the fi m lng a modifiedform.

base member, said shell member being fabg- 9 Illustrates a modifiedmanner of i t d t id novel i t d edges f securing the base member to theback of a such form that said shell member may be blllderused either asa base member for a binder of 0116 9 the f a ur s Of the presentinventhe type wherein the metal shell forms the t OD P6 in h Provisionof a sally only metal part of the back or in-a binder of applicableshell or base member. For this the smooth back type wherein a metal re-T935011, W forms 01 ructure have been inforcing 111 3115 is used such ashQWn in ny ShOWIl t0 11111813111116 P60111121 above mentioned Patent No.1,771,104. 2111- Of 110w?1 Shell member? other feature of the inventionresides in the T yp 0f binder and base structure il- 12 use of novelattaching ngang and-the methlustrated in Figs. 1 t0 t is that typewherein 313 0d of ecuring the hell of the base n ember the basestructure is secured to the back of in position by distorting theattaching the binder by means Of rivets. In Fig. 1 a means. A. stillfurther feature contemplates n rd binder structure is shown a at 1 theprovision of novel means formed .as a ith the back portion as at 2. Tothis back ;a part of the plates for carrying the paper re- Portion 2maybe Secured aplurality Of taining rings whereby the rings may be easigmembers 1 Opened or l d, A feature of the present invention is the Othernovel features'reside in the details forming of the Shell embers and theat-, of construction and assembly as will be more tacking members, in 0b nati0n with the a clearly brought out in the specification and ringconnecting members whereby consider claims. able variation or leeway maybe allowed in as- In the drawings: sembly. In other words, the'personassem- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating bling the binderneed not be exact as tothe the completely assembled base member withpoints where the members. 3 are riveted to 43 the ring members in closedposition. the back portion 2. Eacliattaching inem- Fig. 2 illustratesthe step of positioning ber of the type shown in Fig. 2 is preferablythe assembled base member into complemenformed with turned up flanges 4so as to give tal relation with the attaching means secured the same asubstantially U-shape, each memto the back of the binder. her 3 beingperforated to receive a suitable formed by a one-piece shell 6 whichextends substantially the length of the binder and the longitudinaledges of which are fabricated in a novel manner whereby to receive andposition the plates 7 and to also receive the flanges 4 of the attachingmeans 3.

This novel combined structure may best be explained by reference toFig. 1. Here it will be seen that the plates 7 provided With the struckup lugs 8 have been complemental- 1y positioned within the shell member6 and the edges!) of the shell member turned over to secure the platemembers in operating position.

In addition to the inturned edges 9, the shell member is also providedwith the relatively short outturned flanges or edges 10. It will beobvious that the flanges 4 may be turned inwardly as best shown in Fig.1, whereby to securely grip theedges of the shell structure from theoutside'so as to secure the Same in place. The outturned flange 10 beingshorter than the inwardly turned flange 9, it will be obvious that theupper shell member 6 will completely cover the other parts ofthe basestructure so as to present a very neat appearance.

As best shown in igs. 3 and 4, the plate members 7 are providedwithsuitable extensions 11 and these extensions are in turn provided withsuitable handle members 12 where by the plate members may be movedrelative to each other to open and close the ring members.

In Figs. ,5 to 8 I have illustrated the shell member 6 as being utilizedas a base member in connection with a binder of the type having asmoothback member or, in other words, one without rivets, In this case, thebinder, which may be designated 13, is provided with a suitableattaching member 14 which may be in the form of an arcuate shaped backplate initially provided with upstanding lugs 15.

This back plate 14 may be secured to the back of the binder as by gluingor otherwise,

and then the base member, completely assem bled as'i'llustrated in Figs.2 and 6, may be lowered into position and the lug members 15 turnedinwardly to engage the outwardly turned flanges 10 and thus positivelysecure the base member into position and at the same time cover up fromview said securing means.

InFigs. 5 and 8 I haveillustrated a modified manner of form ing the endextensions. of the plate-7, wherein such extensions 16 and 17 arecrossed over. so that it is merely necessary to move the end portions 18ofthe extensions toward each other to open up the ring members;

important detail of the present invention resides in the peculiarfabrication of the plates 7and the attaching members 3 or 14 as the casemay be. I amreferring here particularly tothe cut-away portions 20 inthe plates 7 ,as best shown in Figs.1,3," and 8, and

positioning lugs 21 and 22, as best shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7.

In the preferred method of assembly of the type of back member shown inFigs. 1 to 4, I prefer to cut away the edges of the plate 7 at suchpoints as it is desirable to locate the attaching members 3. If desired,the edges 01 the plates 7 may be cut away substantially their entirelength, as shown in Fig. 3 or such edges may be cut away only at theparticular point where the attaching members 3 are located. The purposeof this is to positively eliminate any chance of binding when theflanges 4 are turned over into position, as shown in Fig. 1. The samesituation would be true in assembling the type of binders shown in Figs.5 to 8 but here, inasmuch as the lug members 15 are stamped out so as tobe located at particular points, it will be obvious that the plates 7may be likewise cut away along the edges corresponding to the locationof the members 15. This structure is not shown as being necessary but isshown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 8 as being the preferred form.

The purpose of the lug members 21 and 22 is to position the flanges 10so as to reinforce these flanges or what might be said the edges of theshell members while the flanges 4 or the lugs 15 are turned inwardly tosecure the back member into position.

In the type of structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, each attaching member 3is preferably provided with upturned lugs 21 (as best shown in Fig. 1)so that when the assembled back member is lowered into position, asshown in Fig. 2, the flanges 9 will be positioned between the lugs 21and the upturned flanges 4. Now, if the flanges 4 are turned inwardly,as best shOWn in Fig. 1, it will be obvious that the lug members 21 willprevent the longitudinal edges of the shell from being moved inwardly tofar. In other words, these lug members 21 will insure a quick andpositive locking between the flanges of the attaching members and theinturned flanges of the shell. It will be understood that the fitbetween the lugs 21 and the inturned edges of the shell member may besomewhat loose so as to permit the free turning in of the flanges 4.

In the structureshown in Figs. 6 and 7 it will be obvious that the lugmembers 22 may be positioned at substantially any desired points'solongas they reinforce the inner edges of the flanges 10 when the outer lugs15 are turned inwardly to clamp the shell member into position.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified manner of securing the base member to theback member in that suitable countersunk apertures are formed in themember 14 for receiving rivets 25, theheads of which are covered up bythe cloth back of the binder. In this case the plates 17 are preferablyheld in position by the inturned longitudinal edges of a member 26' andthe tops of the rivets 25upset by means of a suitable tool which may beinserted through apertures 27 and 28 formed in the top shell 6 and theplates 7 respectively.

It will thus be seen I have provided an extremely simple and compactbase member which is adapted for universal use with substantially anytype of binder. It will also be seen that by reason of my novelattaching means which permits clamping to the turned 19 over edge of theshell member from the outside instead of from the inside, I have made itpossible to secure the base member to the back member at any point orpoints along the longitudinal. edges thereof. Thus if the binder callsfor an unusually long shell mem her I have made it possible to securethe same to the back member at any number of points desired so as tosecurely and rigidly reinforce the same.

The shell member and ring structure is substantially the same as thatdisclosed in my above mentioned applications, and the attaching means ineither form of binder is extremely simple, easy to manufacture, and easyto assemble.

lVhat I claim is: 1.. The method of assembling a base memher andsecuring the same to the cover of a loose leaf binder, which comprisesenclosing paper-retaining means within a one-piece shell member, fixedlysecuring attaching means to the back of the cover at any desired pointor points, placing the shell above the attaching means and then turningover a portion of said attaching means to contact with a portion of theshell but concealed by the upper surfaces thereof whereby to fixedlysecure the shell to the back of the binder.

2. The method of assembling a base member and securing the same to thecover of a loose leaf binder, which comprises enclosing paper retainingmeans within a one-piece shell member by folding over the edges of theshell member, fixedly securing attaching means to the back of the coverat any desired point or points, placing the shell above the attachingmeans and then turning over a portion of said attaching means to contactwitha portion of the shell but concealed by the upper surfaces thereofwhereby to fixedly secure the shell to the back of the binder.

3. The method of securin base member to the cover of a loose leafbinder, which comprises fixedly securing one or more attaching membersto the back of the binder, providing a sin le-piece shell for receivingand supporting paper retaining means having an imperforate top surfacewider than said attaching means and concealed flanges, and turning overportions of said attaching means to engage said flanges and fixedlysecure the shell to the back.

l. The method of securing a base member 65 to the cover of a loose leafbinder, which comprises fixedly securing one or more attaching membersto the back of the binder, providing a single-piece shell for receivingand supporting paper retaining means having an imperforate topsurfacewider than said attaching means and concealed flanges, and turn ing overportions of said attaching means to engage said flanges and .fixedlysecure the shell to the back, the turning over of said por tions servingto movesaid shell toward the back of the binder and also concealing theattaching means. v a

5. A loose leaf binder, comprising in combination a back, an attachingmember secured to the binder adjacent the back, a base member'comprising a shell extending substantially the length of the binder andhaving both inturned portions and outturned portions, said inturnedportions serving to complementary position the connecting means of paperretaining members, said attaching member having means adapted to receivesaid outturned portions when the base member is placed over theattaching member, said means on the attaching member being turned overfor fixedly engagingthe outturned portions of the shell, said attachingmember and turned over means being concealed beneath the shell. 7 V V Iy Y 6.'A loose leaf binder comprising in combination a back portion, ashell extending substantially the length of the binder and havinginturned portions and substantially horizontal outturned portions, and ametallic member secured to the back of the binder and fixedly clamped tosaid shell by a portion thereof overlapping said outturned portions,said metallic member and outturned portions being substantiallyconcealedby' the shell.

7. A loose leaf binder comprising in combination a base membercomprising a one piece shell extending substantially the length of thebinder, complementally positioned plates for supporting paper retainingmeans held in operating position and concealed by said one-piece shell,means concealed by the shell and secured to the back of the binder forfixedly clamping longitudinal edges .of the shell to the binder, andmeans connected to one of said plates and extending past the end of theshell to serve as a handle member for actuating said plate.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising in combination a back member,attaching means permanently secured to said back member, a one-pieceshell member extending substantially the length of the binder andconcealing said attaching means and being fixedly clamped into positionby said attaching means, plates concealed by said shell and connectingpaper retaining rings having their outer edges pivoted along thelongitudinal edges of the shell, and means integrally connected to eachend of said plates and extending upwardly at substantially right anglesthereto for causing actuation of the ring members.

9., The method of assembling a base 1nemher and securing the same to thecover of a loose leaf binder, which comprises enclosing paper retainingmeans within a one piece shell member, fixedly securing attaching meansto the back of the cover, placing the shell above the attaching meansand then turning over a portion of said attaching means to contact witha portion of the shell but concealed by the upper surfaces thereofwhereby to fixedly secure the shell to the back of the binder.

10. A loose leaf binder, comprising in combination a binder having aportion thereof forming a back, a basemember comprising a single shellextending substantially the 7 length of the back of the binder andhaving inturned portions extending underneath to complementally positionconnecting plates and paper retaining means, said inturned portionsterminating in outwardly extending flanges, and an attaching membersecured to the back of the binder and completely covered by the shelland having portions turned over for cooperating with said flanges forfixedly securing the base member as a part of the binder, said turnedover portions. and flanges being concealed beneath the shell.

11. A loose leaf binder, comprising in combination a back, an attachingmember secured to the binder adjacent the back, a base member comprisinga' shell covering said attaching member and extending substantially thelength of the binder and having longitudinal edges inturned andterminating in outturned portions located beneath the top surface of theshell, said inturned portions serving to complementally position theconnecting means of paper retaining members, said attachlng memberhaving means adapted to receive said outturned portions when the basemember is placed overthe attachingmember,

said means on the attaching member being turned over for fixedlyengagingthe'out turned portions of the shell.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 RICHARD M. WATSON.

